Grain auger device

ABSTRACT

An elongated opening is formed through the casing of an auger on the underside and a screen is detachably secured over the opening to screen out small weed seeds and the like. This opening is blanked off when not in use and the degree of screening is governed by the volumetric intake of the auger which is adjustable.

United States Patent Loch et a1.

[54] GRAIN AUGER DEVICE lnventors: George N. Loch, Box 14, Glendon,Alberta; Alphonse Loch, RR. 2. Tofield, Alberta, both of Canada Filed:Dec. 29, 1970 Appl. No.: 102,357

US. Cl ..198/213, 209/283 Int. Cl ..B07b 1/06 Field of Search 198/7, 9,64, 213; 209/283, 209/282, 281

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Andrews ..209/283 1 July 25, 19723,409,119 11/1968 Mayrath ..l98/213 Primary Examiner-Evon C. BlunkAssistant Examiner-Hadd S. Lane Anorney--Kent & Ade

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT An elongated opening is formed through the casing of anauger on the underside and a screen is detachably secured over theopening to screen out small weed seeds and the like. This opening isblanked off when not in use and the degree of screening is governed bythe volumetric intake of the auger which is adjustable.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 FlG.6

Tu m3. v4 ma W. Z M I 64 Y B GRAIN AUGER DEVICE This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in grain augers, particularly theprovision of a screening device to screen out small weeds, cracked grainand other small material while the grain is being augered from oneposition to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which includes means to control the intake of grainto the auger thus controlling the efficiency of the screening withinlimits inasmuch as a slower feed of grain through the auger increasesthe screening process as all of the grain has a chance to pass over thescreen.

Conventionally, grain is screened by placing same in a device which isadapted to screen out small weed seeds, wild buckwheat, cracked grain,rape seed, flax and other undesirable seeds.

This means the grain has to be handled which is not only time consumingbut also leads to further cracked grain.

The present invention incorporates a screening device in a grain loaderor auger so that when ever the grain is being moved from one position toanother by the auger, the screening process can be undertaken at thesame time if desired.

The device is easily attached to existing grain augers and, when not inuse, can be blanked off readily and easily.

The device is simple in construction, economical in manufacture andotherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view,and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as maybecome apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification,the present invention consists of the inventive concept which iscomprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process,construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or newuse of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specificembodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanyingFigures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a grain auger loader showing the device insitu.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the grain auger tube andauger showing the device substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the shroud per se.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the screen per se.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the screen frame per se.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the blank off plate.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the lower end of the auger showing the shutoffplate portion of the invention. In the drawings like characters ofreference indicate parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, referencecharacter 10 illustrates a grain auger tube mounted upon anundercarriage 11 supported by ground engaging wheels 12.

Situated within the tube is an auger shaft 13 having an auger flight 14surrounding same driven by a source of power (not illustrated) andthrough gear box 15 and shaft 16 to gears (not illustrated) within theupper end of the auger. This structure is conventional and is notbelieved necessary to explain or illustrate same further.

The conventional grain auger loader illustrated in FIG. 1 is providedwith an upper discharge end 17 and a lower intake end 18.

The lower intake end 18 consists substantially of support bars 19extending from the end 20 of the auger tube and these bars also supportthe lower end of the auger shaft 13 within a bearing 20' carried by thebars. An adjustable shutoff plate 21 is situated adjacent this intakeend and is mounted within clips 22 secured to the auger casing or tube10. This shutoff plate is semicircular in configuration and extendsaround the bars and may be rotated in the direction of the double headedarrow 23 from a position where the intake end is completely uncovered toa position where it is partly shrouded as shown in FIG. 1. Dependingupon the position of this intake plate, the volumetric intake capacityof the intake end is variable within limits.

An elongated aperture 24 is formed through the tube wall 10 in theunderside thereof and above the undercarriage 11. This aperture isapproximately 3 inches wide and 36 inches long but, of course, thesedimensions can be varied as desired.

A substantially rectangular frame 25, curved to the curvature of theauger tube 10, is welded to the edges of the tube defining the aperture24 and this welding is illustrated in FIG. 2 by reference character 26.

A recess 27 is formed around the inner edges 28 of the frame and uponthe convex or outer side thereof and small catches 29 are pivoted aroundthe frame and are adapted to overlie the recess 27.

A screen 30 comprises a frame 31 with screening 32 secured thereto andthis frame is also curved to compliment the curvature of the auger tube10. This screen fits within the recess 27 of the frame 25 and lies flushor within the same plane, catches 29 holding same detachably inposition.

A shroud shown in FIG. 3 and collectively designated 33 includes a pairof hinges 34 on one edge 35 thereof and these hinges are in turn securedto the auger tube on one side of the aperture 24.

Swivelling catches 36 are mounted on the tube 10 adjacent the other edgebounding the aperture 24 and these catches can engage or disengagewithin the other flanged edge 37 of the shroud. The upper end 38 of theshroud is curved between the flanged edges 35 and 37 and is spaced fromthe upper edge of the tube 10 bounding the aperture 24. The lower end 39of the shroud is also curved and spaced from the lower edge of the tubebounding the aperture 24 but this curved edge end 39 is spaced a greateramount than the end 38 so that the shroud inclines outwardly and awayfrom the auger tube from the upper end thereof towards the lower endthus acting as a chute for screenings passing through the screen 30.

If it is desired not to use the screening device, the screen 30 isremoved and a blank plate 40 is inserted in place of the screen withinthe frame 25. This blank plate is curved to compliment the curvature ofthe auger tube 10 in a manner similar to the screen 30.

In operation, and assuming that screening is desired, the screen 30 isinserted within the frame 27, it being understood that the size of thescreen governs the size of the seeds which will pass therethrough.

The shutoff plate 21 is adjusted to control the volumetric intake of theauger as desired and the auger is rotated to move grain from the intakeend, upwardly towards the discharge end 17.

The auger flight passes the grain over the screen 30 covering theaperture 24 within the casing 10 thus screening out small weed seeds,cracked grain and any particles which are smaller than the intersticesof the screen. These are collected within the shroud 33 and funnelleddownwardly to a convenient discharge position.

The smaller the amount of grain angered by the loader, the greater thescreening effect so that the degree of screening is controlled withinlimits by the shutoff plate 21 as hereinbefore described.

Access to the frame 27 for placement of the screen or blank plate 40 isby hinging the shroud to one side upon the hinges 34.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventiveconcept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a screw-type grain conveyor, the combination of an inclined augertube having a lower intake end and an upper outlet end and provided atits underside intermediate the ends thereof with an elongated opening, arotatable auger provided in said tube, an elongated frame securedexteriorly to the underside of said tube around said opening, anelongated screen removably mounted in said frame, an elongated shrouddisposed below said frame and said screen for collecting materialpassing through the screen, said shroud having an open end for dischargeof material collected therein, hinges provided at one longitudinal edgeof said shroud and attaching the same to said tube adjacent onelongitudinal edge of said frame whereby the shroud may be swung from aclosed position below said screen to an open position in which thescreen may be installed in and removed from said frame, and latchesprovided on said tube adjacent the other longidutinal edge of said framefor engagement with the adjacent longitudinal edge 5 of said shroud toopenably retain the shroud in its closed position.

1. In a screw-type grain conveyor, the combination of an inclined augertube having a lower intake end and an upper outlet end and provided atits underside intermediate the ends thereof with an elongated opening, arotatable auger provided in said tube, an elongated frame securedexteriorly to the underside of said tube around said opening, anelongated screen removably mounted in said frame, an elongated shrouddisposed below said frame and said screen for collecting materialpassing through the screen, said shroud having an open end for dischargeof material collected therein, hinges provided at one longitudinal edgeof said shroud and attaching the same to said tube adjacent onelongitudinal edge of said frame whereby the shroud may be swung from aclosed position below said screen to an open position in which thescreen may be installed in and removed from said frame, and latchesprovided on said tube adjacent the other longidutinal edge of said framefor engagement with the adjacent longitudinal edge of said shroud toopenably retain the shroud in its closed position.